Contagion: A story by Sanjukta Ghoshal

“The world has come to a stop - the contagion of the deadly virus that had been sweeping the world, nation by nation, has reached the next alley, and it is a matter of time before it sneaks into your house …” Nisha had been reading a news article in the morning. The world had stopped indeed- offices were closed, shops shut-down and all transports had been stopped. They wanted to stop the virus from spreading- 'Break the chain'- flashed often on the TV screen these days. However, Nisha was working with the electricity department, and it was an essential service, so she, like many unfortunate ones, couldn’t afford to work from home. And thus, every morning she and Rehana from the next building, would kick-start their scooties in unison, nodding and smiling at each other as they passed in opposite directions. Rehana was an unfortunate soul like her, perhaps more so, because she was a doctor.

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Nisha was an independent broad-minded woman, her mind wasn’t shackled by century-old superstitions, but she had failed years in talking sense into her orthodox mother, Asha-ji. Asha-ji considered herself a devout Hindu and often slighted her neighbor Nirma-ji with jibes about renting their apartment to a single Muslim girl. 

“I say, how do you like that girl, Rehana?” Asha-Ji would ask. 

“She’s a nice girl, Asha-Ji. So young a doctor, but so down-to-earth - very rare these days.” Nirma-Ji would say.

“But she’s Mus …” 

“We don’t mind Asha-ji.” And the discussion would stop.

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One night amid this, as Nisha was parking her scooty after reaching home, she saw Rehana standing outside, and heard a commotion from Nirma-Ji’s house. From what she surmised, Nirma-Ji and her husband were unwilling to let Rehana in anymore, fearing they would contract the virus from Rehana, who had a high chance of infection since she treated infected patients. A few people had gathered in support of them. A disgusted Nisha beckoned Rehana aside. 

“We have a spare room, you can use it till you get a new place.” Nisha smiled.

Rehana stood rooted, grateful, and Asha-Ji stood rooted in shocked disbelief at her daughter’s action. 

"Shocking no, Maa? How can they throw a woman out in the street at night? And to think she’s saving others’ lives, to think their lives might be at her mercy someday! What has this world come to!”Nisha boomed.

She knew her mother would unleash hell at home if she took Rehana in. And those lines from the news-article eerily came back to her. Something more obnoxious than the virus was sweeping the world - selfishness and inhumanity.

 But as long as love and compassion held their head high in people like her, there was hope of breaking the chain of this other, deadlier contagion.